NRL clears real estate transaction between Ben Hunt and Dragons sponsor

St George Illawarra sponsor Norm Black has declared the club has nothing to hide over claims a real estate deal saw skipper Ben Hunt receive a financial sweetener outside of the NRL salary cap.

Bridget and Ben Hunt along with the property they purchased (inset). Picture: Supplied

The Dragons insist there are no salary-cap issues following revelations Queensland Origin star Ben Hunt purchased a multimillion-dollar property from a club sponsor.

St George Illawarra sponsor Norm Black has declared the club has nothing to hide over his sale of a $2.7 million home to Dragons skipper Hunt.

As Hunt prepares for Origin I this Wednesday night at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, a real-estate report revealed that the Maroons hooker and his nutritionist wife Bridget had bought a property in the Byron Bay hinterland.

It’s understood the NRL has no plans to investigate the matter.

(L-R) Bridget and Ben Hunt.

The 20-hectare property at Newrybar near Bangalow was owned by Black, the co-owner of TripADeal, which sponsors the Dragons.

The business tycoon bought the NSW far-north coast property three years ago for $1.9 million and listed it for sale at $2.95m after a major renovation to turn it into a holiday letting home.

Hunt managed to negotiate $250,000 off the final sale price, but Black scoffed at any suggestion the Dragons were offering their skipper a financial sweetener outside the NRL salary cap.

“There’s no cap issues at all - any suggestion of that is nonsense,” Black said.

“It was a place I had as an Airbnb and ‘Hunty’ stayed there over Christmas.

St George Dragons star Ben Hunt and his nutritionist wife Bridget have bought a property in Newrybar. Source: Instagram

“He is into breeding horses and post footy he wants to get into that, so I said to him if you want the property, which has plenty of acreage, I will sell it to you.

“Have a look at the deal.

“Hunty paid $2.7 million for it, it’s not like he got it for nothing, there’s no cheating of the cap.

“People talking about the salary cap are barking up the wrong tree.”

Separate to the star’s newest purchase, the Dragons are keen to start talks on a new 12-month extension for Hunt.